About Us

Screenplay Readers’ mission is to provide constructive, insightful script coverage and feedback that helps writers, producers, agents, managers, talent, and filmmakers improve their scripts prior to submitting them for consideration or development.

Brian O'Malley (BSO) started his script reading career in 1994, reading and covering scripts for the literary agency Media Artists Group. In 1997, he went to work as a script reader and script coordinator for legendary B-movie maverick Roger Corman (Little Shop of Horrors, Death Race 2000, Rock and Roll High School), then in 1999 assembled a team of top--notch script readers and filmmakers to launch SCREENPLAY READERS.Favorite Films: Dr. Strangelove, Putney Swope, Harold and Maude, Repo Man, A Clockwork Orange, City Lights, The Graduate, Monty Python and The Holy Grail, The Blues Brothers. Favorite Genres: cult, dark comedy, arthouse.

Here are some of the places we've worked for. NOTE: Logos don't imply endorsement of us by them, (or them by us.)

Our script readers have worked for world-class agents, producers, studios, and talent. Here's just some of them:

Our Philosophy on Script Feedback

At Screenplay Readers, we believe that good script feedback must possess four essential qualities:

1) Script feedback must be honest, even if it’s what the writer doesn’t want to hear

We believe that without honesty — constructive and no-punches-pulled honesty — the most problematic flaws about a script can’t be pointed out. In service of that honesty, we not only give our script readers permission to be as critical as possible, we also make sure our clients always know who’s reading their screenplay, unlike nearly all other script services. Clients are free to visit this page at any time to see our script readers’ faces, names, and bios.

2) Script feedback must have actionable suggestions (AKA all killer, no filler)

We believe that without insightful, specific, actionable suggestions on how to improve the script, the feedback is of little or no use to the writer. In service of that belief and that dedication, we make it a point to never write fluff, self-help, or lean on motivational or inspirational tropes when critiquing our clients’ work, nor hold the work to any prefabricated “screenwriting standards” of any self-proclaimed “script doctor” or “script guru” who may be more interested in upselling you a contest, course, or e-book, than he is in critiquing your screenplay.

3) Script feedback must be timely

Without immediacy, the writer can’t act upon the suggestions with any speed. Without speed, the momentum for a rewrite could be lost. We make sure we gear our workflow towards quality first, of course, but speed is always a close second. We know that if a writer, producer, or agent can’t get her feedback quickly, it can set her back by precious days or even weeks.

4) A script feedback service must keep its customers’ data 100% private

Keeping your script and your data 100% secure and private is our top priority. That’s why our readers and staff are vetted thoroughly and contractually bound to maintain your intellectual property and data privacy at all times. We don’t scrape your personal info or sign you up to mysterious services, and we don’t sell your data or give it away or share it with anyone. Period. Any material you send us stays secure and private and 100% yours. As it should.

Our Script Reader Roster

If you’re interested in working as a script reader for Screenplay Readers, please visit our script reader job page.

Jean Barker (JB) directed an award-winning short film and recently signed her first feature film screenwriting deal. She’s currently writing a comic book and has a webseries or two up her sleeve. Favorite Films: Y Tu Mama Tambien, The Truman Show, District 9, Amadeus, Nightcrawler, Dirty Pretty Things, True Romance, One Flew Over a Cuckoo’s Nest, Dirty Dancing, Magnolia. Favorite genres: Genre-defying blends, Sci-Fi, Romantic Comedy, Thriller

Alessandra Bautze (AB) holds an MFA in screenwriting from the University of Texas at Austin and a BA in the Writing Seminars and film and media studies from Johns Hopkins University. She has served as a reader for the Austin Film Festival screenplay competition, as well as other smaller competitions from Baltimore to Vail. An advocate for diversity in media, she currently teaches film studies to nontraditional undergraduates. Fascinated by languages, she enjoys speaking French and using American Sign Language. She loves strong female protagonists and is an avid fan of Doc Martens. Favorite movies: Winter’s Bone, Rust and Bone, A Prophet, Waltz with Bashir, Persepolis, Bicycle Thieves, Rear Window, Children of a Lesser God, In the Name of the Father, La Haine, V for Vendetta. Favorite genres: Drama, Coming-of-age, Historical

Krishna Devine (KD) is a published author, independent film writer and director and has worked for several companies in all areas of film ranging from writing, on-set production, post production, visual effects, distribution and development. Favorite Films: Blade Runner, Battle Royale, American Psycho, Shaun of the Dead, The Jerk, Wet Hot American Summer, Reservoir Dogs, Fight Club, Aliens. Favorite genres: Dark Comedy, Thriller, Horror

Joel Fishbane (JF) is an award-winning author of fiction, non-fiction, theatre, and film. His work has been honored and performed at festivals, contests, and conferences across Canada, the United States, and overseas. He also works as an actor and has a B.A. in Creative Writing and Theatre from Concordia University. Favorite Films: A Very Long Engagement, Pan’s Labyrinth, Children of Men, Back to the Future, Inglorious Basterds, The Untouchables, Angels in America, Annie Hall, A Few Good Men, The Adventures of Robin Hood (1938). Favorite genres: Historical, courtroom drama, sci-fi / fantasy, screwball comedy, rom-com, musicals

Lane Gjerstad (LG) has spent several years in film development working directly under award-winning independent film producers. She has provided coverage for major motion pictures, such as Oscar-winner Hacksaw Ridge, Washington DC Area Film Critics Association winner I Smile Back, and Lila and Eve (Viola Davis). Lane has a BFA in Dramatic Writing and Film. Favorite films/TV shows: Delicatessen, The Shining, Bernie, Heathers, Best in Show, Office Space, Idiocracy, Doctor Who, Broadchurch, King of the Hill. Favorite genres: black comedy, sci-fi, action/adventure.

Sam Gurney (SG) holds a First Class Honors degree in Film & TV Screenwriting. He has worked as Script Editor on a feature film for 104 Films, as well as providing coverage for numerous UK-based companies and independent producers. Writer/director of a short film currently in pre-production. Favorite films: Jurassic Park, RoboCop, Dr. Strangelove, Heat, Tootsie, Being There, Terminator 2, The Raid, The Thing, Train to Busan. Favorite Genres: Action, Comedy, Horror, Crime/Thriller.

D. M. Le (DL) has worked as a reader for the talent and literary agencies ICM and Media Talent Group. She has an MFA in Screenwriting and teaches screenwriting and film analysis. Favorite films/shows: Spirited Away, The Royal Tenenbaums, Pan’s Labyrinth, The Lives of Others, Amelie, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Mad Men, Daredevil, Black Mirror, The IT Crowd. Favorite genres: fantasy, dark comedy, character drama

Sonali Mehta (SM) holds an MA in Screenwriting from Met Film School in London. She has written six short films and two television pilots, several of which have placed at International Film Festivals, like NYIFF. One of her pilots is currently under option with a producer. She has also worked in script development and editing with such companies as Focus Features, Big Light Productions (The Man in the High Castle, Ransom, Netflix’s Medici), Eclectic Pictures (Olympus Has Fallen), and 3 Arts Entertainment. Favorite films and television: Memento, Fargo, Ex Machina, Nightcrawler, Being John Malkovich, The Office, Broadchurch, The Good Place, Breaking Bad, and Arrested Development. Favorite Genres: Crime, Dark Comedy, Absurdist, High-Concept, Thriller, Mystery

Jason Rostovsky (JR) is an LA native writer and producer, with a B.A. in Screenwriting from Chapman University. He has worked in development at several high-profile production companies including Blumhouse Productions, Scott Free, and The Donners’ Company. Favorite Films: Dawn of the Dead, Pontypool, Cube, Suspiria, Rosemary’s Baby, Battle Royale, The Sweet Hereafter, Green Room, Alien, 10 Cloverfield Lane. Favorite Genres: Horror, Thriller, Dark Comedy, Sci-Fi.

C. E. Tucker (CT) has a Masters of Fine Arts in Screenwriting and worked for the Producer Travis Know as a story intern. His original screenplay won the grand prize at a major Texas screenplay competition. Favorite Films/Shows: The Good The Bad and The Ugly, Toy Story, Knocked Up, The Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, My Cousin Vinny, Oh Brother Where Art Thou, Blade Runner, October Sky, Cool Runnings. Favorite Genres: Action/Adventure, Comedy, Science Fiction.

Adam Zanzie (AZ) is an award-winning writer/director currently based in Los Angeles, CA. He is a graduate of the David Lynch Master’s in Film program, and has covered screenplays for such producers as Brian Frankish, Scott Rosenfelt, Susan Landau Finch and Antonia Bogdanovich. Favorite movies: Pinocchio, Sunset Boulevard, High Noon, To Kill A Mockingbird, Lawrence of Arabia, The Wild Bunch, Jaws, Apocalypse Now, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial, Schindler’s List. Favorite genres: Thrillers, Westerns, Epics.

Analyst TZ is Senior Vice President of Development for a literary and talent management firm. She has been in script development for over 15 years, has produced an award-winning independent film, and has worked on several other independent films. Favorite Films: Psycho, Jaws, The King’s Speech, A Civil Action, Rosemary’s Baby, Apollo 13, Field of Dreams, Wizard of Oz, Evil Dead, Grace and Frankie. Favorite genres: Horror-Thriller, Drama, Romantic Comedy/Dark Comedies

We support the WGA and keeping film jobs in Los Angeles

And finally, Screenplay Readers is proud to support the Writers Guild of America and its brotherhood and sisterhood of union writers, leadership, and staff working to keep the art and industry of screen and television writing vibrant and strong. We also support the movement to keep film jobs in Los Angeles and California via FilmLA.